Funding to support the development of clean water technology program and testing unit
EDMONTON, Jan. 10, 2018 /CNW/ - Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) is receiving almost $600,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada and $200,000 from Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) to design and construct a high temperature, high pressure testing unit that Western Canadian companies will use to implement water technologies in oil sands.
The funding was announced today by Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 issues, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada.
Today's investment will help establish a Membrane Technology Assessment Program (MTAP) at NAIT's Centre for Oil Sands Sustainability to support the design and construction of a membrane technology unit. The unit will test membrane and other water treatment technologies designed by companies in controlled conditions that simulate oil sands in situ operations.
The testing unit will help develop 12 industrial water technologies used in oil sands, and train and develop 12 highly qualified people. This will also enable at least six western Canadian oil companies the opportunity to test their technologies and more quickly implement innovations that create environmental and economic benefits.
A focus on clean technology, innovation and growth is a core element of the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change. Through the Framework, Canada will focus on creating and maintaining globally competitive Canadian businesses as we transition to a low-carbon economy.
Canada's Innovation Agenda promotes clean growth, good jobs and higher living standards for the middle class. The investments announced today are an example of this vision in action.
Quotes
"Our government is proud to support NAIT in advancing its clean water technologies applied research portfolio. Today's investment will enable NAIT and western Canadian oil companies to test ideas and apply cutting-edge solutions that will bring about environmental and economic benefits and reinforce Canada's global competitive advantage in clean technology."
- Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on LGBTQ2 issues
"NAIT is an important partner for COSIA in advancing our clean resource innovation. Thanks to this partnership and our government's commitment, we are advancing the testing and development of a new generation of oil sands technology that we believe offers a potential solution for oil sands water treatment. This project is a demonstration of how collaboration brings us closer to reaching our goals for finding solutions to our biggest challenges."
- Dan Wicklum, Chief Executive, COSIA
"This membrane testing unit continues a tradition of leading-edge applied research with industry partners, helping them to become more sustainable. I would like to thank the Government of Canada and Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance for supporting this project."
- Dr. Glenn Feltham, President and CEO, NAIT
Additional Links
- Western Diversification Program
- Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change
- Innovation Agenda
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SOURCE Western Economic Diversification Canada
Donna Kinley, Manager, Consultation, Marketing and Communications, Western Economic Diversification Canada - Alberta Region, 780-902-2984, [email protected]; Eileen Kahler, Director of Communications, Canada's Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA), 403-818-2889, [email protected]; Marta Gold, Senior Media Relations Specialist, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), 780-916-8307, [email protected]
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